AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has located an elderly woman reported missing on Tuesday.
Prior to being found, 79-year-old Catherine Driscoll had last been seen at approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday near East 18th and East Trinity streets, wearing a purple backpack, dark pants and a light shirt.
Driscoll was reported missing at approximately 7 p.m. Tuesday. Law enforcement officials expressed concern for her wellbeing "due to her deteriorating emotional behavior and unexplained disappearance."
Just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, APD said Driscoll had been found safe.
What is considered a missing persons case?
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a missing person is defined as anyone who is at least 18 years old and who did not have any known plans of leaving.
This includes adults who have a physical and/or mental disability, who are unemancipated and those who could be in danger or have gone missing after a catastrophic event.
What to do if you know someone is missing
If you believe a person you know is missing in Texas, call 911 or reach out directly to a nearby sheriff's office.
Additionally, Texas DPS Missing Persons Clearinghouse, the Unidentified Persons and DNA unit have worked together to create an online portal to search for missing persons, online abductors/companions and unidentified persons.
Using this website, individuals can search for a missing person by including details like their name, case number, eye color, where they were last seen, the state they are missing from and more.
